What the Bible says about Enmity toward God's Law
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Isaiah 59:1-2 Despite the fact that man is separated from God, the Bible says very little about it, mostly because the writers of the Bible assume it to be so since the separation of God and man at the very beginning of the Book (Genesis 3:22-24). Everyone who reads the Bible with any kind of understanding recognizes that man and God are not on the same wavelength. They are estranged from one another. Despite so little being written about the separation, a great deal is written about how the two will be reconciled. Isaiah 59:1-2 is one of the very few places that actually clearly states why the separation exists: because of man's hostility toward God. Paul states in Romans 8:7 that the carnal mind is enmity, hostile, against God, and that hostility, he writes in Ephesians 2:2, is motivated by "the prince of the power of the air." Satan has deceived all of mankind (Revelation 12:9). John W. Ritenbaugh Fall Feast Lessons Related Topics: Carnal Mind | Carnal Mind, Enmity to God's Law | Enmity against God | Enmity toward God | Enmity toward God's Law | Enmity, Spirit of | Estrangement from God | Hostility to God's Law | prince of the power of the air | Reconciliation with God | Reprobate Mind | Satan as Deceiver | Separation from God

Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus Christ's Model Prayer begins with three petitions that comprise a set: “Our Father who is in heaven, [1] may your name be treated as holy. [2] May your kingdom come, [3] may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10, Lexham English Bible). In short, one who prays is to ask for God to receive due reverence, His plan to come to fruition, and His instructions to be followed. These three requests concern spiritual matters, indicating that such things should be top-of-mind for those who approach God's throne. The third of these petitions, asking for the Father's will to be done on earth as in heaven, contrasts the obedience of God's heavenly servants with the general disobedience and rebellion among earthly humans. When God commands an angel to do something for Him, the angel responds immediately and carries out his task thoroughly (Daniel 9:20-23; 10:10-14). However, in Romans 8:7, the apostle Paul describes human beings as at “enmity [hostile, hateful, having deep-seated ill-will] against God; for [the carnal mind] is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Through David, speaking of “the children of men,” God says, “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2-3). The petition requests, not just help for the petitioner in obeying Him, but a sea-change in the attitude of humanity toward God and His instruction. God's plan involves bringing all humanity into subjection to the Father (I Corinthians 15:23-28). Paul, quoting Isaiah 45:23, writes, “As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11). The prayer's third petition looks forward to this day while reminding the Christian that he must himself imitate the Father's angelic servants in carrying out God's will with enthusiasm and devotion. Richard T. Ritenbaugh The Model Prayer (Part Five): Your Will Be Done Related Topics: | Enmity against God | Enmity toward God's Law | God's Will and Purpose | Model Prayer | Model Prayer :Your Will Be Done | Submission to God's Will

Romans 7:5 Paul explains how that before we were converted, our sinful natures brought us under the death penalty. He shows that the carnal, sinful mind is so hostile toward God (Romans 8:7) that knowledge of God's commandments actually stirs a desire in an unconverted person to commit even greater sins. Earl L. Henn Dead to the Law? Related Topics: Carnal Mind | Carnal Nature | Dead to the Law | Death Penalty | Demonic principalities | Enmity toward God's Law | God's Law | Hostility to God's Law | Human Nature | Sin

Ephesians 2:13 In this context, Paul is speaking specifically to the Gentiles, but in principle, it applies to all of us too—because we too have been far from God. We have been so far from Him that, as Paul writes at the beginning of the chapter, as far as God was concerned, we were dead. He quickened us (made us alive) through knowledge of Himself and His purpose. John W. Ritenbaugh Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C) Related Topics: Enmity | Enmity against God | Enmity toward God | Enmity toward God's Law | Gentiles | Partition | Partition as Sin | Reconciliation | Reconciliation with God | Redemption | Separation | Separation from God

 

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